straussler



N. STRAUSSLER FOLDING VEHICLE Sept. 22. 1931.

original Filed March 2a, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet .2A-4;@ JM.

M .DM

N. sTRAUssLER Sept.'22, 1931. FOLDING VEHICLE Re. 18,203

Original Filed March 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 my *y ,47 TR/VEYJ Q59 lapsed. v

Reissued Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATE-'s PATENT NOFFICE.

'NICHOLAS s'rRAUssLER, or LONDON, ENGLAND FOLDING VEHICLE Original No. 1,739,269,idated December 10,1929, Serial` 110.350,518, iled March 28, 1929, and in Great Britain. February 13, 1928. Application for reissue lcd JunemlG, 1930. Serial No. 461,661.

` This invention relates to folding vehicles and is applicable to boats, perambulators, cycle side-cars, and similar vehicles, of the kind in which the floor ofthe vehicle has one end curving inwardly at both sides towards the centre line or major axis and the other end truncated or squared, that is, formed at right angles to the said major axis, the side walls of the vehicle beingV continuously 1g oined to the floor and following its contour, so that they can both be laid flat on the floor, while the stern or rear wall is similarly jointed at the lower edge to the floor.

According to this invention the lower edges 1 5 of the side walls extend to the square end of the ioor panel, and their top edges end some distance away from the top corners of the rear wall, stern or back-board, the gaps be-V ing triangular in shape, and trianglar jointing pieces which may be of the same material as the floor and walls, extend between the sides of the undivided rear wall and the inclined portions of the side walls, so that when erected they constitute portions of the side walls. The back-board can thus be conveniently laid down over the rear ends of thetwo side walls and over the triangular jointing pieces. Y, e

The vehicle may be constructed of material which possesses suiiicient flexibility to enable the side walls to be bent at the front portion and the floor to rise in a curve corresponding with the curvature thus imposed on the side walls. This material may be plywood, with .35 or without a coating of thin galvanized metal applied internally or externally, or both. The walls may be jointed to the floor by webbing treat-ed with waterproof glue, or by other suitable material.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried intoeifect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings exemplifying the application of the invention to boats.

Figure l is a side elevation and l Figure 2 is a plan of a boat 'opened out for use. v Figure 3 is a plan of the same boatV col- Figure 4 tion. j

Figure 5 isa longitudinal section on a large scale taken. on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6--6 'of Figure 8. e

A indicates the iiat bottom of the boat, B, C the side.walls,.D`the stern connected with the side wallsby triangular jointing pieces E, F. G indicates' a gratingwhich can be placed across the boat bottom, H a hinge to which a rear'seat (not shown), Lmay be attached, Ja hinge for the attachment Yof a front seat (not shown), K an eye lthrough which any suitable hooli may be passed to facilitate the lifting of-'the front end of the boat bottom in opening-out the boat; M and N indicate U shaped clips-for securing the ends of a/p'air of sculls whichmay be laid longitudinally of the boat when itis folded for storage 'or transport. W indicates the webbing which forms the joints between the relatively movable parts. f

The rear wall or stern Dis preferably narrower at its `free upper edge than lat its lower or jointed edge; when erected it may be vertical, or maybe setto lean back. The lower or bottom edges of the side Walls B, C extend to the square end of the oorpanel A, whereas .the topedges end Asome distance away `from the top corner of the rear wall D, the gaps being triangular in shape. The triangularjointingpiecesE, F which may be of the same material as the floor and Walls, extend between the sides of the rear wall on the one hand and inclined portions of the side walls on the other hand, so thatwhen erected they continue the lines of the topsof the side walls to their junction with the upper corners or other partsL ofthe rear walls, or may as illustrated in Figure 1 be slightly inclined downwards toward the stern. i

In Aorder to avoid the pre-sence of va sharp point at the front of the vehicle, the gunwale or elbow rest in the case of a boat'for example may be slightly inclined downwards towards the front, so that the side walls while rising to the full height-of the back wall leave a gap is a vplan illustrating a modificawhen laid down,` as seen in Figure 4, and the floor may be rounded or truncated at this part. l n A vehicle body thus constructed can readlly be collapsed into a. Hat condition for storcontinuously jointed to the sides olf the said floor andv following litsl contour throughout' its length, said sidewalls being shorter at their upper edges than at their lower edges mldbeing adapted to be'tumed, down .over the floor-and laid flat thereonwith their normally upper edges towards-the major axial line of the floor, an undivided rear Wall con tnuously jointed atfitslower edge to the Straight vend of, the floor land `adapted .to be turned down over the outsides of the side VWalls-ivvhrll the latter are folded, andftwo, triangular portions each jointed .at one side to.l one side of the rear Wall, said portions being each jointed .at-their forwardly inclined side to an inclined edge of one of the side walls, whereby in collapsing the` vehicle ,said

triangular portions are caused to .lie between the rear wall and the side walls.

2.' In afoldingv vehicle,'a longitudinally continuousy floor member having curved lat-- eral edges; at one end and 'squareat itsy opposite 12nd Vlateral members ladapted to lie ever and substantially parallel to said' floor member, eachvof saidlafteral members having its Vedge contiguous tothe edge of saidfloor member of substantially the same contour as said floor member, means flexibly connecting each of said lateral` members toj saidY floor membery and enabling said? lateral members to be moved1 into a'positgion substantially at right :anglesgto said floor'member,said lateral members in said last named position flexing the curvedy end of sai'dgiloorrmember, vand a rear memberflexiblyconnectd. t0 thel square end vof said door member and to said lateral members. and foldable inwardly over the same* Y Y v l3.111 ,a folding vehicle, a longitudinally :continuous floor member havingy curved lateral edges at one end and square at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to V'lie over and substantially'parallelto said floor member, means flexibly connecting each of said lateral members to, said floor member and extending throughout the length vof the contiguous edges of said lateralvandiiloor members, said lateral` members being mov# able into-a position substaainltiallyv at right angles to said 'floor member 'and fcurv'edxend o-saidfloor member in vsaid position?, and afrearV memberlflexibly connected 4fiexi'ng the 4. In a folding vehicle, a longitudinallyv continuous floor member having its lateral edges tapered at one end` and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members' adapted to lie ,over and substantially parallel to said lioor member and havingtheir edges contiguous to theedges of said 'floor member of substantially the same contour as said floor member, vmeans flexibly connecting each of said lateral members to said floor member and enabling said lateral ymembers .to be moved into a poe sitio'nsubstantially at rightangles to said floor member, and :a rear member flexibly connected with the truncated end of said floor member and to said lateral members and foldable over the same.

V.5, In a folding vehicle., a longitudinally continuouslloor member tapered at one end land truncatedat its opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie vsubstantially fpa'rallel to said floor member, means extending throughout the length of the contiguous edges. of said floor and lateral members to flexibly connect said lateral members to .said floor member and enabling said zlateral mein- ;bers to be moved into a position substantially at right angles to said floor member, and a lrear member flexibly connected tothe tru-ncated'end of said loor member and `to said lateral members and rfoldable over the same.

r4(i, In a folding vehicle, va Vfloor member tapered at one end and truncated atits opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to, said floor member, ysaid Hoor and lateral members being longiv ltudinally continuous and relatively rigid but adapted `to be bent into curves, means liexibly r Y ,connecting each of said lateral members to said-'floor member and enabling said Ylateral members to be moved into a position substantially at right angles to said ilo-or member, and a rearimember flexiblyconnected to the truncated end of said ldoor :member and to said lateral membersA andV foldable overtlue sam-e. 7. In a foldingv Vehicle, .a loor member tapered at one end `and truncated at its. yopposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to said Hoor ',member, saidfiloor and lateral members being longitudinally continuous and relatively rigid Ibut Aadapted toY be bent into curves, said lateral members having their edges contiguous to .the edges of :said floor member of substantially the'same contour as said `floor member, means flexiblyI connecting each of said'lateral members to said floor Vmember and enabling 'sai-d lateral members to be moved into a position substantially at Tight' angles' to sai-d Afloor me1nber,`and a rear member flexibly connect'- ed tothe truncated end of' said floor member and having jointed connections therewith ree tapered at one end and truncatedv at its opposite end,.lateral members `adapted to' lie substantially parallell to said floor member, said floor and lateral members being longitudinally continuous and relatively rigid but adapted to be bent into curves, means flexibly connecting each of said lateral members to said floor member and extending throughoutlthe length of the contiguous edges of said floor member and lateral members, said flexible connecting means enabling said klateral members to be moved into a position substantially at right angles to said floor member, a rear member flexibly connected to the truncatedend of said floor member and jointed connections between said rear member and said lateral members foldable und-er saidrear member.

-9. In a folding Vehicle, alongitudinally continuous floor member tapered at one endv and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to said floor member, means flexibly connecting each of said lateral members to said floor member and enabling said lateral members to be moved into a position substantially `at right angles to said floor member, said 'lateral and floor members having curved contiguous edges whereby said members are con` cavely flexed when said members are moved into said position substantially at right angles to each other, and a rear member flexibly connected to the truncated end of said floor member and to said lateral members `and foldable over the same.

10. In a folding vehicle, a longitudinally continuous floor member tapered at one end and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to said Hoor member 'and having their edges contiguous to the edges of said Hoor member of substantially the same contour as said floor member, means flexibly connecting each of said lateral members to said floor member and extending throughout the length of the contiguous edges of said members, said flexible connecting means enabling said lateral members to be moved into a position substantially at right angles to said floor member, and a rear member flexibly connected to the truncated end of said floor member and vto said lateral members and foldable over the same.

11. In a folding vehicle, a longitudinally continuous floor member tapered at one end and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to liesubstantially parallel to said floor member and having their edges contiguous to the edges of said floor member of substantially the same contour as said floor member, means flexibly connecting each of said lateral members to said floor member and extending? throughout .the length of the contiguous edges 'ofsaid members, said flexible connecting means enabling said lateral members to be'moved into a position substantially latv right angles to said floor member, and a rear member adapted to lie over' and substantially Yparallel to said floor member and lateral members andllexibly connected to the. truncated end of said floor memberand to said lateral members.

12. In a folding vehicle, a floor member tapered at one end and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to said floor member'and having their edges contiguous to the edges of said floor` member of substantially the same contour as said floor member, meansY flexibly connectingfeach of said lateral members to said iioor member andextendingthroughout the length of the Vcontiguous edges of said members, said flexible connecting means enabling said lateral members to be moved into a position substantiallyxat right angles to said floor member, a Vrear member' adapted to voverlie said lateral members substantially' parallel thereto, flexibleY connecting means between said'zrear member and said :floor member, and means connectingfand foldable between said late-ral members .and said' rear member.

13. In a folding Vehicle,'k afloor'member tapered at one end andtruncat'ed at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to said floor member and having their edges contiguius to the edges of said floorv member of substantially 'the same contour as said floormembenmeans flexibly connecting' eachv of `said lateral members to said floor member and extending `throughout 'the length ofthe contiguous edges of said members, said flexible connecting means enabling said lateral members. to be moved into a position substantially Aat right angles to said floorl member, said lateral members'atv their Vedges opposite to said contiguous edges being shorterthan said-floor member, a rear 'member flexibly connected to the truncated end Vof said Hoor member, andtriangular members interposed between said rear and lateialmembers and flexibly connected to eac 14. In a folding'vehicle, a floor member tal pered at one end and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members adapted to lie substantially parallel to said'floor member and having their edges contiguous to the edges of said floor memberof substantially the same contour as said floor member, means flexibly connecting said laterall members to said floor member andv extending throughout the length of the contiguous edges-of said members', said flexible connecting means Venabling said lateral members tovbe moved into a position substantially at right `angles to said floor 'I member, said lateral `members having. their LID .edges remote from said iioor member :shorter than their .edges contiguous -to said' vfloor member, triangular, members V.flexibly foon'- nected vto Ysaidzlateral members and y:adapted .to .fold thereon, and a'rear Amember e'xibly lconnected to saidV triangular members :and l@adapted lto lfold thereon, saidy .rear lmember -beingflexiblyconnected to said floor member.

15. vIn afolding vehicle, a floor member tapered at one end and truncated at itsV opposite end, .lateral members adapted `to lie Vsubstantially parallel to said floor member and having their, edges contiguous to the edges of .said floor member of substantially the `same contour as .said .floor member,A means fiexibly ,connecting said lateral members tosaid floor -member .and .extendimgthroughout the length of the contiguous edges of saidimember, said *flexible `connecting 'means enabling said :latveral members toibe mowed into aposition substantially .at right angles to said .floor .mem- Jber., vsaid 4late-ral members each having a section adjacent the truncated end of-said `ioor member which is. flexibly-connected to the lateral member and oldable with respect .1thereto,`y and .arear AVVmember f flexibly connect- .ed to the Atruncated end of said Viioor member aand to each l,of said'foldable extensions .lof said lateral members.. .1.

v 16. In a folding vehicle, a floor `mearlmber .and lateral members .adapted to liesubstan`l :to fa position in which said floors-and lateral Vmembers react on .each other. to iiexsaid floor member, .and -a rear member flexibly connect- -rtially parallel, .said members compose .ed to the .end-ofssaid tioorfmember andv to said lateral members and adapted to be folded l lateral members .adapted to lie substand of material which is approximately rigid ibut .bemdab'le into `Curvesin the direction ofthe Vtion'tbereto,a'rear member iexibly connected to the truncated end of said floor` member and .adapted to be folded'into parallel yrela'- tionthereto, said rear member being foldable` on top of said 'lateral members, and connect- 2 ing members between said rear and lateral members which form a part of the lateral wall'of the structure when said `members are moved into a position substantially at right langles to said floor member. A n

20. In a folding vehicle, a longitudinally continuous, floor member tapered at one end and truncated at its opposite end, lateral members flexibly connected to said floormem- .ber and adapted to be folded into parallel relation thereto, a rear memberfflexibly connected to the truncated end of said oor member and adapted to be folded into parallel relation thereto, and triangular-shaped members flexibly lrconnected to said rear member '95 andsaid ,lateral members and constituting extensions :of said' lateral members `When said rear andlateral members are moved-into positions substantially at. right angles. to said floor member. f

speciication.

- NICHOLAS sTRAUssLER.

'length `of said mnembermsaidfloor andlateral members having :contiguous edges of Vlike contour and lflexibl connected, vsaid iiexible `.connection permittingfsnaidlateral .members v continuous '..ioor .member tapered at one end .Y

and truncated 'at itsronppositel end, lateral Y members lflexibly connected to said iioor member and adapted to be folded into parallel rei.

lation thereto, `ai rearimemberflexibly connected to the truncated end :of said ioor memvlzrer and :adapted Vto be Vfolded over and into relation theretgs. andV foldlble extenl10o .In ktestimony whereofV I have signed this 

